Automatic stop for phonographs



e. H. TAGGART, I AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3. I918- Patented Jan. 6

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G. H. TAGGART. AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1918 1,327,501. Patented Jan. 6,1920.

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J 52 32 F M ag "IVE/1T0]? v Taggarl enonen H. TAGGART, on NEW YORK, N.Y.

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filed September 3, 1918. Serial No. 252,404.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen H. TAGGART, I

by Letters Patent of the United States No.

1,286,833, issued to me on the 3rd day of December, 1918, the purpose inboth 1nven tions being to provide a tripping mecha- Y nism for the brakewhereby the brake will act automatically upon the turntable, stoppingthe rotation thereof at the moment that the stylus reaches the inner endof the record groove, or immediately thereafter.

Among the objects of the present improvement is to simplify and cheapenthe construction of means for accomplishing the above object, all aswill be more fully set forth and described with reference to theaccompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a plan View of my improvement on the top of a phonograph case and with the reproducer andturntable indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the parts intripped position.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail view of the trip mechanism, the normalrunning position being shown in full lines, and the preliminary trippingposition being in dotted lines. 7

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the means for securing the base plate of myimprovement to the deck of the casing.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of a modification; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal detail view on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show at 10 the top ordeck of the main portion of a phonograph case in which is formed a holeor depression 11 in the center of which is the motor driven turntablepost 12 on whichthe turntable 13 is supported as usual for theaccommodation of the record disk 14. At one side of or at the rear ofthe turntable is the oscillating tone arm 15 cooperating in any wellknown manner with a thimble 16 having a smooth topped flange 17connected to the deck and through which communication is had with thehorn or sound amplifier, not shown. Obviously. I do not wish to belimited in practice to any unnecessary features of construction, and forthe most part the devices thus far describedare conventional, the operation of which is well understood.

The brake comprises a shoe 18 pivoted at 19 to an arm 20 pivoted at 21on a metal plate 22 adapted tobe readily seemed to the deck 10 as bymeans of screws 23 projected through large holes 2 1 for the sake ofaccuracy of adjustment. (See Fig. 6.) Sheet metal is well adapted forthis structure because of its relatively cheap nature and readyadaptability in practice. 25 in dicates a corner portion of the baseplate 22 bent down at 26 so as to project into the pit 11 reachingnearly to the post 12, whereon is journaled a wheel 27 on a verticalfixed pivot 28. This wheel 27 is in constant frictional contact with thepost 12 from which it is rotated as indicated by the arrows while theturntable is rotating. EX- tending upwardly from the wheel 27 is a studwhich describes a small circle concentric with the pivot 28. Therelative diameters of the post 12 and wheel 27 may vary somewhat, but asshown the wheel is larger and hence makes fewer rotations than theturntable. A spring 30 fixed at one end to the arm 20 and anchored at 31tends to draw the brake shoe against the periphery of the turntable. Theshoe, however, in running position is held out of contact with theturntable by means of a trip lever 32 mounted on a fixed pivot 33 on thebase 22 and having cooperation with the end of the arm 20 remote fromits pivot 21 preferably through an anti-friction roller 31 seated in anangular shaped seat 35. The outer end of the trip lever constitutes afinger piece 36 whereby the brake may be either set or released at anytime by hand. The seat 35 in the form indicated serves two directfunctions. The wing thereof that projects radially constitutes a stoplimiting the movement of the roller 34 in a direction away from thebrake shoe when releasing the brake or from the position of Fig, 8 tothat of Fig. 1. The wing of theseat at right angles to. theonepreviously mentioned-or tion of this wing, however, passes butslightly beyond the line of centers of the roller 34 and pivot 33 sothat a very slight movement or force applied to the trip lever towardthe brake shoe suffices to trip the brake to the position shown in Fig.3, the roller rolling easily around the circumferential wing of the seat35.

Surrounding the thimble 16 and supported above the flange 17 thereof isa flat ring 37 having a notch 38, the same being indicated as beingformed in the inner edge thereof adjacent to the front side of thethimble and into which a finger 39 carried by the tone arm 15 projectsloosely. Hence with the oscillation of the tone arm in playing directionthe ring 37 is given a corresponding partial rotation around thevertical aXis of the tone arm. Loosely supported upon or above the flatring 37 is an other ring 40 loosely surrounding the thimble 16 andhaving a long cutaway or notch 41 so as to always clear the tone arm andthe finger carried thereby. Extending forward from the ring 40 is anactuator arm 42 extending toward the pit 11 and over the base plate 22.This actuator arm 42 is held in horizontal position by means of acounterbalance 43 on the opposite side of the thimble. A washer 44 ofleather, or its equivalent, applied between the rings 37 and 40 sufficesto cause the ring 40 and actuator arm to rotate with the ring 37 and yetpermitting relative slippage between the two rings when desired as willpresently appear.

The trigger mechanism comprises an arm 45 loosel pivoted at 46 to atrigger lever 47 having xed pivot connection to the base 43 and to theopposite end of which is fixed a tensile spring 49 anchored at 50. Thenormal tendency of this spring is to hold the outer end of the arm 45 inrolling contact with the otherwise free end of the actuator arm 42. Thisarm 45 with respect to the pivot 46 constitutes a lever of the firstclass, one arm of which, namely between the pivot 46 and the end of theactuator arm, is relatively very short, while the other arm isrelatively long and has secured to its end at the pivot '51 the triggerarm 52. A spring 53 connected to the outer end of the trigger arm 52 andto the intermediate portion of the arm 45 tends to hold the trigger armin the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, with a lug 54 carried by thetrigger arm bearing against the arm 45. The extent of oscillation of thearm 45 is limited by stops 55 on opposite sides thereof.

The trigger arm 52 when made of sheet metal comprises a downwardlyprojecting end flange 52 and a similar side flange 52 between Whichthere is a gap 52. These parts are so designed that when the machine isrunning normally the stud 29 approach ing the trigger arm passes throughthe gap 52 beneath the top or main portion of the arm and strikesagainst the inner surface of the end wall or flange 52*, whereby thetrigger arm and parts connected thereto before the roller 27 makes ahalf turn will be moved from the full line position of Fig. 4 to thedotted line position thereof. By this movement of the trigger mechanismtoward the left the flange 52 is brought into the path of the stud 29.

In the practice of this invention it will be understood that the tonearm has a practically constant and uniform progression toward the centerof the turntable, the stylus being positively fed toward the center ofthe disk by virtue of the spirality of the record groove. Hence, whilethe wheel 27 is making a one half turn, or before the stud 29 thereofwill have moved from its dotted line position to the full line positionin Fig. 4, the turntable will have made at least one whole rotation andthe stylus will be fed toward the center of the disk to a distance atleast equal to the width of a thread. Thus the tone arm will be movedpositively toward the left and the ring 37 will be positively moved inthe same direction through -a similar angle. The upper ring 40 andactuator arm 42 will be moved in a similar direction by friction throughthe washer 44 and thereby the arm 45 will be oscillated in the oppositedirection around the pivot 46 as indicated by the arrows on Fig. 1 andthe trigger arm 52 will be returned consequently to its normal positionas shown in full lines in Fig. 4 prior to the next approach of the stud.Thus the actuator arm will be given continual oscillations of shortamplitude at each rotation of the wheel 27, and the arm 45 will be giventhe same number of oscillations carrying with it the trigger arm 52 withlarger amplitude. This action continues without actuation of the brakeso long as the tone arm and stylus are moved toward the center of thedisk. When, however, the stylus reaches the inner end of the spiralrecord groove where the groove merges into a circle concentric withthepost 12 the tone arm is held thereby from further oscillation.Consequently when the stud 29 again engages the inner surface of the endflange 52 and draws the trigger mechanism to the left, the dotted-lineposition of Fig. 4, the parts will remain in this position since theactuator arm 42 is no longer functional to restore them to normalposition. Thus when the wheel 27 makes another partial rotation the stud29 strikes the flange 52 and swings the trigger arm in a clockwisedirection around its pivot 51 as shown in Fig. 8, the opposite or outerend thereof acting to swing the trip lever 32 setting the brake. As soonas the stud 29 passes the flange 52 the spring 53 returns the triggerarm to its normal position.

The engagement contact between the actuator arm i2 and the shorter aunor the lever 45 is or may be mainly that of rolling i ric tion, foralthough I indicate in Figs. 1 and 3 toothed engagement so as to preventlateral displacement or one member with respect to the other, I indicatein the detail view of Fig. 7 the essential nature or this Contactwherein the end oi the arm 42 has rolling contact only on the roundedend or the arm e5.

In order to prevent the possibility of premature setting oi the brake asfor instance during the operation or placing the stylus upon the recorddisk, and at which time the tone arm may be held for a brief period in astationary position, I provide some means acting automatically upon theactuator arm keeping it in an advanced position. The means I have foundsuitable for this pur pose comprises a spring 56 pivoted at 57 andhaving two arms, one arm having a finger 58 bearing against the rearedge or the arm 42, while the opposite arm bears against the edge of thering 87. This ring is provided with a depression 37 so located and longenough to accommodate the adjacent end oi the spring 56 during thenormal playing and stopping operation above described, but when thereproducer is held at or near the edge of the disk the spring lies uponthe un notched portion or the ring 37 thereby putting the finger end orthe spring under the desired tension for the purpose indicated. WVithrespect to the construction and function of the actuator arm 42 it is tobe observed that this arm is always so held at or toward its forwardposition, either by reason of the spring just mentioned or thefrictional driving connection from the tone arm, as to insure that thetrigger arm 52 tends to remain out or the path or the stud 29. Hence anyvibration of the machine such as may be incident to the winding of themotor, tilting, or jostling or the cabinet, while the record is beingplayed, will not disturb the automatic mechanism and cause the prematuresetting or the brake.

I claim:

1. The combination with an automatic brake for a phonograph turntable,of means to initiate the setting of the brake automati cally when theend or the record is reached, said means including a trigger arm, an armto which the trigger arm is pivotally connected, means to hold thetrigger arm normally substantially at right angles to the arm butpermitting it to be swun around its pivot to a difierent angle, means toreciprocate the trigger arm in opposite directions in alternationcontinually while the record is beingplayed, the means acting upon thetrigger arm to reciprocate it in one direction serving to cause theswinging thereof as aforesaid after the end or the record is reached,and a trip member acted upon by the angular swing of the trigger arm torelease the brake,

2. The combination with a turntable, a power member to rotate it, and anautomatically operated brake tending when released to stop the rotationof the turntable, of brake controlling means located between the brakeand the turntable rotating member to automatically initiate the settingor the brake when the end or the spiral record groove is reached, saidbrake controlling means including a trip lever acting directly to holdthe brake released but pivoted to swing in an arc of a circle, a triggerarm, means supporting the trigger arm for continual reciprocations inopposite directions while the record is being played and permitting theswinging thereof after the record is ended, said trigger arm cooperatingwith the trip lever to set the brake when the trigger arm swings on itspivot, a member cooperating with the trigger arm to cause reciprocationthereof in one direction and also rotation thereof, and means actuatedby the turntable driving means to cause said last mentioned member tomove through a circular path.

3. In automatic stop devices for phonographs, the combination with atone arm, means to cause the tone arm to oscillate in arcs of a circle,and a brake, of means to antomatically initiate the setting of the brakewhen the tone arm ceases to oscillate, said last mentioned meansincluding an annular notched member loosely surrounding the base of thetone arm, an actuator device ex tending laterally therefrom, and meansacting. between the tone arm and the annular member tending to hold theactuator member advanced in the direction in which the tone armoscillates, said holding means comprising a ring parallel to the annularmember, friction means between the annular member and the ring, and arigid finger carried by the base of the tone arm and projecting looselyinto the annular member notch and engaging and positively moving thering and also the annular member by virtue of said friction means.

4:. In automatic stop devices for phonora hs the combination with a tonearm 3 7 7 means to cause the tone arm to oscillate in arcs of a circle,and a brake, or means to automatically initiate the setting of the brakewhen the tone arm ceases to oscillate, said last mentioned meansincluding an annular member loosely surrounding the tone arm in ahorizontal plane and having a long notch along its inner edge, anactuator member constituting a rigid lateral extension from the annularmember, a second annular member in vertical alinement with the aforesaidannular member, and having a notch registering with but shorter than theaforesaid notch, frictional connections between the two annular members,and a finger carried by the base of the tone arm and projecting intoboth notches aforesaid to cause the oscillation of the annular memberswith the oscillations of the tone arm and thereby causing the movementof the actuator member through the frictional connections in acorresponding direction.

5. In an automatic stop for phonographs, the combination with a tone armand a brake, of means to automatically set the brake when the tone armis no longer caused to move toward the end of the record, said lastmentioned means including a trip lever, a trigger arm adapted to actuatethe trip lever to release the brake, an arm having a rounded end and towhose other end said trigger arm is pivoted, an actuator armsubstantially in alinement with the aforesaid rounded ended arm andhaving rolling contact with the rounded end thereof, said actuator armbeing moved in connection with the movement of the tone arm, and meansconnected to the rounded ended arm to maintain the same pressed with itsrounded rolling end against the adjacent end of the actuator arm, andlast mentioned means including a trigger lever and a spring actingthereon substantially as set forth.

6. In trigger means for automatic stops for phonographs, the combinationof an actuator arm and another arm having end to end abutting rollingcontact, a trigger lever pivoted to said other arm at the center of itsrounded end having engagement with the actuator arm, a spring actingupon the trigger lever serving to maintain a uniform frictional contactbetween the abutting ends aforesaid, a brake trip lever, and means 00-operating with the end of said other arm aforesaid remote'from itsabutting end cooperating with the trip lever to cause the setting of thebrake when the end of the record is reached.

GEO. H. TAGGART.

